Before she could get in and lock the doors, he had alighted, cutting off her escape. Seeing him for the first time since last night did something funny to her stomach. He was wearing his traditional color. The black denims and sweater under a scarred jacket made him look dangerously appealing.
"I don't have time for you." She began as she disarmed the alarm. "You know what!" She turned around and almost collided with his chest. "I have something to say to you. Would you please back up? You're crowding me."
"Then my work here is done." He remained where he was, just drinking in her delicate and subtle perfume. "Going out?"
"Clearly. You started the servants gossiping about me."
"How the hell did I do that?"
"Did you tell Carmen to allow me to sleep?"
"Who?"
"The maid assigned to me, you moron. Why did you have to say anything to her?"
"She happened to see me leaving your room."
"Couldn't you have made something up?"
He looked genuinely baffled. "Why the hell would I want to explain myself to a bloody maid?"
"Because you've made it apparent that you slept in my room. Damn you! I asked you to be discreet. If you had left when you should, this would never have happened."
"And now it has. Frankly, I don't give a damn who wants to know. You were the one who wanted to keep it a secret."
"For good reasons. Oh, just go away, I'm running late."
He grabbed her arms before she could enter the vehicle. "Let go of me."
"Where are you going?"
"That's none of your business."
"I beg to differ." His eyes blazed as he took in her made-up face and latched onto her shimmering lips.
"Don't you dare," she hissed as he continued to stare at her lips, his gaze smoldering.
"Did you get the part about my not caring who knows about us?" he asked silkily. When he started to lower his head, she did her best to push him away. No doubt, the few household staff that were in the palace were probably pressed up against the windows, eagerly looking out at the spectacle.
"If you kiss me here where people can see us, I'll never forgive you," she warned desperately.
"I'm willing to take my chance." His expression was determined as he backed her up against the door. Before she could wrench away, he clamped his fingers on her chin, forcing her face upward. "I intend to give you something to think about while you're out on your date."
When he closed his mouth over hers, she bit his bottom lip hard. Instead of being fueled by anger, he felt a surge of lust so strong, it sent fire straight to his loins. Biting back a groan, he tugged on her lip. He had originally intended the kiss to be light, but that changed.
Wrapping a hand around her neck, he sank into the kiss, his body molding itself against hers. Gone was the anger and desire to prove a point. He no longer cared who was watching. He just wanted the feel of her lush curves against his. Desire throbbed through him like a flood and had him deepening the kiss.
Antoinette's attempt to resist was swept away as the familiar passion took over completely. With a moan of surrender, she found herself surrendering, her traitorous body responding to his with mortifying eagerness. Her lips parted, her nipples tingling as he continued to kiss her with an ardor that had her clinging to him.
He was the one who ended the kiss and even then, he continued to hold her, his breathing harsh, eyes glinting with passion.
"How the bloody hell you can go out with another man is beyond me."
The hazy desire that had wrapped around her suddenly blurred and she was jarringly brought back to reality. They were in full view of anyone who was curious enough to be looking, and she had allowed him to kiss her in public.
Shoving at him, she took several deep fortifying breaths before getting into the car. Without a word, she jabbed the start button and whipped along the curving driveway.
He stood there staring at the disappearing taillights, a frown on his brow.
"Damn stubborn woman," he muttered darkly. It didn't matter if she went on her fake date; he knew without a doubt whose bed she would be sleeping in come later. And if she allowed that Cabron to touch her, he was going to tear him apart. Dragging restless fingers through his hair, he wondered at the ignominy of his position. He was going to be cooling his heels while his bloody woman was out with another man.
